proteus

1 of 2

noun (1)

pro·​te·​us ˈprō-tē-əs 

plural protei ˈprō-tē-ˌī 

: any of a genus (Proteus) of aerobic usually motile enterobacteria that include saprophytes in decaying organic matter and a common causative agent (P. mirabilis) of urinary tract infections

Proteus

2 of 2

noun (2)

Pro·​teus ˈprō-ˌtyüs 

-tē-əs,

-ˌtüs 

: a Greek sea god capable of assuming different forms

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

New Latin, from Latin, Proteus

Noun (2)

Latin, from Greek Prōteus

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1896, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

proteus

noun

pro·​te·​us ˈprōt-ē-əs 

1

capitalized : a genus of aerobic gram-negative bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae that ferment glucose but not lactose and decompose urea, that are usually motile by means of peritrichous flagella, and that include saprophytes in decaying organic matter and a common causative agent (P. mirabilis) of urinary tract infections

2

plural protei -ˌī  : any bacterium of the genus Proteus